Coating machine



. BEST AVAILABLE com Oct. 12 1926. w 1,602,712

0. E. SEGRIN ET AL COATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BEST AVAILABLE COP:

. Oct. 12 1926.

v o. E. SEGRIN ET AL COATING MACHINE 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5

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BEST AVAILABLE com Oct- 12 1926.

1,602,712 o. E. SEGRIN ET AL COATING MACHINE 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5

BEST AVAILABLE COP\ 0. E. SEGRIN El AL Oct- 12 1926.

COATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BEST AVAILABLE COP\1 Patented Get. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR E. SEGRIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, AND CARL J. CLEMENS, OF EAST LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS.

COATING MACHINE.

Application filed January 5, 1923.

This invention relates to a machine for applying a coating of chocolate or other similar material to confectionery or other food products.

It is the general object of our invention to improve the construction of such machines, making them more efiicient in operation and capable of producing more satisfactory results when in use.

W'ith this general object in view, one feature of our invention relates to the provision of an improved conveying device for elevating chocolate from a heating tank to its point of delivery above the work. The term chocolate in this specification should be understood to include any other similar materials used for coating food products.

Another feature of our invention relates to the provision of an improved chocolate delivery device or feeding receptacle and to convenient means for adjusting the flow therefrom.

Additional features of our invention relate to an improved device for applying a heavy coating of chocolate to ,the bottom or under side of the work; to an improved type of conveyor belt and guidingdevices therefor; to means for cleaning the conveyor rolls; to a tension device or drag for the plaque papers; and to other arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly' we haveprovided the usual chocolate heat- I ingtank23 within which the melted chocolate is contained and in which it is mainpointed out in the appended cla ms.

A preferred form of our invention is shown in the drawings in which i Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of our improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the chocolate delivery device or feeding receptacle, of a portion of the chocolate elevating mechanism, and also of certain parts of the work conveying mechanism;

Fig. t is a detail side elevation of the regulating device for the chocolate feed;

F ig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown v I to the shaft 25. Through these connections in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial detail plan view of the bottoming attachment, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 .is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of portions of the, work conveyor and delivery mechanism, particularly show- ;ing the tension device for the plaque papers;

Serial No. 610,799.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the rubber drag or tension device shown in section in Fig. 7;

Fig.9 is a detail view of a portion of the chocolate elevating belt or conveyor;

Fig. 10 is a detail side elevation of certain driving and guiding devices for the feeding and delivery belts;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional elevation, taken along the line 1l11 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional elevation of the conveyor and drum or pulley therefor, taken on the line 1212 in Fig. 10; and

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are detail views showing. the means by which the plaque papers are detachably secured to the delivery belt.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a coating machine comprising a casing within which the coating mechanism is contained, a work conveyor 21 adapted to advance the work through the casing 20, and ad'elivery conveyor 22 to.which the usual plaque papers P may be secured and on which the coated articles are deposited. In the actual use of the machine a feeding conveyor is provided for advancing the cores or other articles to be coated to the conveyor 21. This feeding conveyor is omitted from the drawings, but is in general similar to the delivery conveyor, with the omission of the paper attaching devices.

Referring particularly'to'Figs. 1 and 2,

shown) mounted in the upper portion of the casing 20 and connectedwith the shaft 25 by a chain 27 (Fig. l), sprocket 28, bevel gears 29 and 30, sprocket 31, chain 32 and. sprocket .33, the latter sprocket being fixed the shaft 25 is rotated at airelatively slow I speed and the chocolate is thoroughly mixed in the tank 23. I f

A skeleton druin or pulley 34: (Fig. 1) is loosely mounted between collars on the shaft 25 and is driven from a shaft 35 on which the .bevel gear 30 and sprocket 31 are moi' nted;v *i' Ihe drivingconnection com-- prises a"'spro'cket 36on the shaft a; chain- 37, and sprocket 38 .seoured to the drum 34;

able higher speed than the shaft 25. A

chocolate belt or conveyor 40 is driventhe drum 34, from which it passes upward across the casing in the-uppenportion thereof to the opposite side where it againhe scends to the drum 34 in the heating 23. Suitable guide pulleys. 41 (Fig.2) are provided for conducting .jthe. belt."40 along the. .path'indicated. i i

.In the preferredkembodiment vention, we use 'a wireconveyorv pr. beltzof. the general typeshownr'in. Fig.59,

but it willbe understood that our inve'litibn.

is not. tothis particular .type -of belt otherwise than asgsetforthin the claims.

A scraper 1) is .niounted' in the; upper part of the casing; 20 and extends closely adjacent the underlside foi the consveyor 40 in its upper; transverserun. .The scraper .42 is supported by abracket and has a. bolt and. slot connection thereto by which it may bevertically adjusted to more or. less closely enga e the conveyor 40. Driving pins 44: (Fig.1? are. preferably provided in the edges of the drum 34 to advance the chocolate conveyor'as, the dr'um'34 rotates. The mesh..fabric,,shown inF ig..91;is of such a cellular construction that a very large quantity of chocolate may. be raised by the conveyor and is removed therefrom by the scraper. 42.. An additional upper} scraper. 45, indicated in dotted lines'in Fig. .1, :maybe provided when ,it is desirable toremove an even larger amount of chocolate from the conveyor during 'its. transverse upper run.

The chocolate as it is removed. from the conveyor is received in a delivery device in the form of a pan or receptacle 46 from which it is delivered in a heavy stream to the work \V (Fig. 3) as the work is drawn through the casing 20 by the work conveyor.

21.. The pan 46 has certain special features of construction which will now be described.

The pan is ingeneral of a triangular shape having a sharply inclined bottom plate 47 and having an overflow opening or-spill-- way 48 at one side through which any surplus chocolate may be returned to the heating tank. A screen 49 forms an inner partition in the pan 46, through which the chocolate flows to the bottom opening of the panwhich is provided with a regulating gate 50 pivoted at 51 to the bottom plate-47.. lhe plate 50 is preferably formed of sheet metal and has an ear or wing 52 at one or both. ends thereof.

As shown herein, the wing 52 is formed by bending upward and outward an integral projection 53' otthe; gate 50. 'An ad justing'scre'w' 54"is threaded in a nut fixed to the front plate 56 of the pan 46. The end of the screw 54 extends through-a slot ig. 5) in the wing 52 and ovalfaced, collars 58 engage the wing 52 on both sidesthereof. A wing nut 59 is secured to the end o f.th e scre,w 54 by which it may be adjacent one side of 'thecasiiig "205 thence spend with. the requirements'of the particu-- lariworkW-V passingfihrough the machine.

..Thepan 46.may he adjustably supported in the casing 20 by a'threaded rod 61 (Fig. l), extending-.througha crossplate 20 in the upper'fportion, of the casing. 20 and having an. adjusting". nut: 62Q'ior regulating the position thereof. "Thefwork conveyor 21 is preferably of-an open'mesh wire fabric and may be similar injstructure. to. the chocolate conveyor' or: belt-40.. The surplus chocolate passes th'rough'the belt 21 andis received in theheatertank23., w

lt'has.heen found difficult to provide the work W' with a sufliciently heavy and satisfactory coating. on the under side thereof and we have made special provision for thus bottoming the work incur improved machine.. :For thi's purpose a relatively large A bottoming. platev 66 extends across the casing. beneath the conveyor 21 and may be piovidedwith. wings or end plates 67 at each end of the. roll The plate 66 is preferably perforated to prevent the formation of an air pocket above the plate and is supported on brackets 68 (Fig. 6) adjustably secured to the casing, 20 by screws (39.

In the operation of the machine, the plate 66 is set at such a distance from the roller 65 that a largeportion of the chocolate delivered from the pan 46 will pass through the opening between the plate and roll into the tank. The opening is suiiicientiy restricted, however, so that a portion of the chocolate will be backed up and retained in the pocket formed by the plate 66 and roll 65, overflowing the pocket and particularly coating the 'Ol'kf on the under side through the meshes of the conveyor 2.1. This provision of means for thus coating the work on the underside is of' very great importance and removes one serious objection Inn to the use of this type of machine, which has heretofore commonly required the services As the feeding conveyor 21 passes through the machine it=is supported upon a plurality of guide rolls-7O and itisnecessary for the smooth and satisfactory-l operationof. the machine that these guide-rolls be-lieptelear of accumulations of chocolate: i For this purpose-we have provided a special construction and arrangement of scraper for each roll .70. \Each scraper consists of a plate'71 (F i'g.'}j3) extending axially of its suitable driving-"mechanism' indicated in Fig. 1",, andfinclii'ding' -a* s'proclret chain 75 driven from a motor-and connected by additional "sprockets and-"byf chains 76, -7=7 and 5 78"to'the' roll 'and to an'addi tio'nal r0112 '7 9' by which the belt is 'drii' eni 'fDrivin pins='80= rig. rr maybe "provided on the engaging'the 'mesli'es; the conveyor belt, if so desired.*-"--' L1 J The delivery conveyor 22 is preferably formed of canvas or other fabric and is provided with thickened edge portions 22 (Fig. 11) which may be conveniently produced by stitching or otherwise securing a narrow strip of thicker iaterial along each edge of the belt. These strips not only reinforce the belt but also greatly assist in keeping the belt straight. The driving drum 81 (Figs. 10 and 12) for the belt 22 is recessed at its edges, as indicated at 82, to receive the thickened edge portions of the belt 22 and the guide rolls 83 for the belt are also reduced in diameter at their ends for the same purpose. The guide roll 83 adjacent the drum 81 is also provided with retaining rolls 84: (Figs. 10 and 11) mounted on brackets 85 and directly above the guide roll. The retaining rolls 8i are so close to the surface of the roll 83 that the belt can only pass between these parts when the thickened edge portions of the belt are in the recesses at the ends of the guide roll 88. In this way the belt is constrained to follow a straight and undeviating path, a result which is particularly desirable in connection with coating machines.

It is customary to detachably secure sheets P of waxed or paraffine paper to the delivery belt 22, these sheets being known as plaque papers and receiving the chocolate-coated articles from the work feeding belt 21. The

customary means of attaching the papers to asst AVAILABLE com a the belt 22 is shown in Figs. 13, 1.4. and 15 and comprises wire staples 86 secured in the belt and having the projecting upper ends 87 out-turned and adapted to be received in a key-hole opening 88 in the leading end of each plaque paper P.

In the operation of the machine the filled papers are removed and fresh papers are attached during the upper run of the belt 22, away from the coating mechanism. The freshly attached papers are then carried around the driving drum 81 and back along the lower run, being finally returned to upper and operative position at the point where CR-COHVGYOI' or belt 22 makes a sharp angle around a guide plate 90 Fig. '7) closely ad acent a corresponding turn of the work conveyor 21.

Inorder that the plaque papers may be properly tensioned and smoothly delivered at this turning point, we have provided an improved tension device or drag, best shown in'Fig. 7. This device consists of a piece of sheet material 91, preferably corrugated rubber, supported on a metal plate 92 extending across the machine and whichis itself supported by a spring plate 93 mounted on a fixed cross-i'bar 94 =(Fi'g. 1). A spacing block 95 -may be interposed between the plates-92 and 93 and a backing or resistance plate'9fisupportsithe conveyor 22 against the thrust of; the tension device. The rubberv sheet 91 is thus yieldingly forced against the plaque papers by the spring plate 93 and tensions the papers so they are smoothly delivered to the ,upper run of the conveyor.

The drum 81 is conveniently driven by a worm wheel 97 and worm 98 (Fig. 1), the latter being mounted on a shaft 99 having suitable connections to the driving motor.

The specific construction of the conveyor belt and its driving mechanism is not claimed herein but forms the subject matter of a divisional application, Serial No. 61,886, filed by us October 12, 1925.

Having thus described our invention and the operation and advantages of the several parts thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim 1s:

1. In a coating machine, a casing, a heating tank for the coating material positioned in the lower part of said casing, a delivery device for the coating material, a carrier to feed the articles to be coated beneath said delivery device, a perforated conveyor for the coating material movable transversely of the machine in a closed path through said tank around said carrier and over said delivery device, and means to remove the coating material from said conveyor above said delivery device.

2. In a coating machine, a casing, a heating tank for the coating material positioned in the lower part of said casing, a delivery device for the coating material, a.- carrier to feed the articles to be coated beneath said delivery device, a perforated conveyor for the coating material movable transversely of the machine in a closed path through said tank around said carrier and over said delivery device, and means to remove the coatin t material from said conveyor above said delivery device, said removing means engaging the under side of said conveyor and being adjustable relative thereto.

3. In a coating machine, a casing, a heating tank for the coating material positioned in the lower part of said casing, a delivery device for the coating material, a carrier to feed the articles to be coated beneath sa-id' delivery device, a perforated conveyor for the coating material movable transversely 'of the machine in a closed path through said tank around said carrier and over said delivery device, and means to remove the. coating material from said conveyor above said delivery device, said conveyor being formed of wire with open meshes effective to raise and deliver coating material in relatively large quantities.

at. In a coating machine, a delivery device for the coating material comprising a receptacle having an inclined bottom member wit-hart opening at the lower: end thereof, a

gate pivoted to swing in. said opening, and:

BEST AVAILABLE COP\ means to adjust the position ofsaid gate, said means comprising an adjusting screw mounted on saidreceptacle and connected to said gate to move said gate and to hold said gate in adjusted position.

5L In acoating machine, a mesh conveyor for feeding: articles to be coated, means to flow the coating materialover said articles, a roll underlying said conveyor adjacent the point where the coating material is applied, and a plate mounted adjacentsaid roll and beneath said conveyor, said plate and roll forming a pocket in which the material is backed: up over the conveyor to coat the under sides of said articles;

5. Ina coating machine, a mesh conveyor for feeding articles to be coated, meansv to flow the coating material over said articles, a roll underlying said conveyor adjacent the point- Where the coating material is applied, and a plate mounted adjacent said roll and beneath said conveyor, said plate and, roll forming apocket in which the material is backedup over the conveyor to coat the under sides of said articles, and said plate being adjustable toward and from the roll to permit more: or. less coating material to escape :t'rom the pocket.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto atfixed our signatures.

- -.OSCAR.E. SEGRIN.

CARL J. CLEMENS. 

